Classes and Workshops

Two classes coming up very soon are being taught by some of the best artists and best instructors that The Morton Arboretum has ever offered. Suzanne Wegener will be the instructor for Drawing Nature II on four Thursday evenings beginning on May 31, 2018. Suzanne will be teaching skills that are essential to any artist who wishes to draw nature realistically. Plein Air on the Prairie, on either Monday, June 4, or Monday, June 11, 2018 is a three-hour excursion onto the prairie with a sketchbook and two experts, naturalist Cindy Crosby, and artist Karen Johnson. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about and experience the prairie from a botanical as well as an artistic point of view. Please click on the above links to learn more or to enroll. Classes are open to all, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum, but Arboretum members will receive a discount on registration fees.

Page from Karen Johnson’s sketchbook. Copyright 2017, Karen Johnson.

Evelyn Grala has done it again, and come up with a way to keep Nature Artists’ Guild members growing this summer. Evelyn has planned a new Summer Sketchbook Encounter, to begin on June 1 and continue until September 1, 2018. Participants will be asked to fill four pages of a sketchbook per week, using any media they would like (including crayons), and to have fun. It’s as simple as that. The improvement in drawing and composition skills will come automatically! Interested members who have not already signed up should contact Evelyn (whose contact information can be found in their Yearbook) to ensure they receive her periodic updates and encouragements.

The Nature Artists’ Guild will be exhibiting at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL from Wednesday, June 6 through Friday, July 13, 2018. The exhibit may be viewed any time during estate business hours, Monday through Friday, from 9 am until 3 pm, or Saturday between 9 am and 1 pm, but the best time to visit would be on Wednesday evening, June 27, 2018 between 6 and 8 pm. This artists’ reception is open to all, and is a great opportunity to meet and talk with the artists and enjoy light refreshments. Participating artists should check the prospectus for drop-off and pick-up dates and times.

There is so much excitement and anticipation around the upcoming program featuring biologist, author and artist Julie Zickefoose on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum. All are welcome to attend this event free-of-charge. Please click on the highlighted link for more information.

Page from Baby Birds, An Artist Looks into the Nest, copyright Julie Zickefoose. Used with permission.

A new paint-out has been added for June, and it’s at one of the prettiest spots in the area, Meadow Lake at The Morton Arboretum. On Tuesday, June 26, at 9 am, Nature Artists’ Guild members will meet at the P-2 parking lot east of Meadow Lake. There will be water, flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees (naturally), and even some large mysterious creatures in the area. Guild members can contact Jane Kellenberger if they would like to attend, but last-minute drop-ins by members are also welcome.

Note: This post has been updated to include the new date for the rescheduled paint-out.

Artist in Residence Thomas Dambo at work on one of his creations for the Troll Hunt at The Morton Arboretum. Photo credit mortonarb.org. Please click on the photo for more information about the artist.

Julie Zickefoose is a biologist, a naturalist, a speaker, an author, and an artist. The Nature Artists’ Guild is excited and honored to sponsor a presentation by Julie at the Thornhill Education Center of The Morton Arboretum on Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 7 until 9 pm.

Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into The Nest, copyright Julie Zickefoose. Used with permission.

Julie will be speaking about her adventures in nature and in researching, writing and illustrating Letters from Eden, The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds With Common Birds, and her newest book, Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest. This program will appeal not only to artists, but also to birders, writers and anyone interested in the natural world. Please click on the images or this link to JulieZickefoose.com to read more about Julie, her fascinating experiences and her books.

Copies of Julie’s books will be available for purchase at the meeting, and she will be glad to sign those as well as previously purchased books brought in by attendees.

As always, all are welcome to attend this Nature Artists’ Guild program. There is no charge for the program or for parking, and there is no admission fee to the Arboretum for this event. Non-members can let the gate attendant know they are there for the program to be directed to Thornhill.

This is the story of an artist’s love affair with a piece of land, and the birds, animals, and plants that inhabit it. Simple habitat enhancements can take a back yard from bland to bustling with wildlife. In this slide talk, artist/writer Julie Zickefoose shows how she and her husband have transformed their 80-acre abandoned farm into a wildlife sanctuary and observatory — a perfect personal habitat.

There are still some seats available for the lecture. Please click on the above highlighted link to register or to read more. Julie will also be teaching a two-day workshop for the Arboretum’s Visiting Artist Series. Sorry, but that workshop, Nature in Word and Image with Julie Zickefoose is sold out.

Page from Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into The Nest, copyright Julie Zickefoose. Used with permission.

There is still time to sign up for one or more of both of the nature art classes beginning early next month at The Morton Arboretum.

Nature in Colored Pencil, with instructor Kimberly Mullarkey, begins on Tuesday evening, May 1, 2018 and continues each Tuesday for three more weeks. Colored pencil is a wonderful medium for capturing the subtle colors and details of nature, and Kimberly, a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, is an experienced, talented and fun instructor. Some drawing experience is required for this class.

Drawing Mammals, with instructor Carrie Carlson, is offered on two different mornings, Saturday, May 5, 2018 or Saturday, May 12, 2018. Using a variety of drawing media and photos as well as specimens, participants will explore the shapes and textures of mammals. Carrie, probably most known for her block prints, is a popular and experienced art educator. Please click on each image for the title or a larger view.

Spring begins tomorrow! It’s one of the busiest times of the year for the flora, fauna, and yes, nature artists, here in the Midwest. As the birds, trees, frogs and flowers are preparing for the season, so are members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. Please click on any of the highlighted links for more information.

Coming soon –

The annual expedition (paint-out) to the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum for members of the Guild takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Members can drop in with their art supplies and camera any time between 9 and noon.

Spring nature art classes and workshops begin soon at The Morton Arboretum. Inspired by Tony Tyznik: Drawing Oaks, taught by Suzanne Wegener, begins on Thursday, April 5, 2018, and Beginner’s Nature Art Workshops: Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil with Kathy Steere are scheduled for Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8, 2018. These classes and workshopsare open to all, not just members of the Nature Artists’ Guild or The Morton Arboretum.

The Spring Exhibit of Natural History Art at The Morton Arboretum takes place on the weekend of April 7 and 8, 2018. This year we will be featuring images of some of the exhibit artwork by numerous Guild artists on this website. Check back soon for a preview.

A new paint-out has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the home of Guild member Linda Hilderbrant from 10 am until 1 pm. More about this paint-out at Linda’s lovely and extensive woodland landscape to come soon. Thank you to Linda for this gracious invitation!

Suzanne Wegener’s two-day workshop, Advanced Textures in Graphite and Watercolor, takes place on the weekend of February 17 – 18, 2018 at The Morton Arboretum, and there are a few openings still available. Suzanne is an accomplished botanical artist and an extremely talented and popular instructor, and participants can expect an enjoyable and productive experience.

Tackle nature’s most prickly textures with this watercolor workshop. From thorns and prickles to wrinkles and puckers, we will explore the extreme textures of the botanical world. Learn how to apply watercolor to a graphite drawing and which surface to use. Supplies will be provided to use during the class if you do not have your own.

All are welcome to enroll in The Morton Arboretum’s classes and workshops, and members of The Morton Arboretum will receive a discounted registration fee. Please click here or on one of the highlighted links above to reach the Arboretum’s website to read more or to register.

Whether your priority for the upcoming year is to make more art, to learn new techniques, or simply to view more art or make new friends, the Nature Artists’ Guild has it covered. There is still time to join or renew, and since memberships are for the calendar year, the sooner you join, the more benefit you’ll receive from your membership.

On Thursday evening, February 1, 2018, between 7 and 9 pm, Susan Waldron will give a presentation at the Thornhill Education Center on her techniques for creating floral and landscape paintings in oil as well as in fiber made from, if you can believe it, the wool from her own herd of alpacas! Guests and visitors are also welcome to attend this program free-of-charge. More details will be coming soon, but please visit Susan’s website for a preview of her work (and her alpacas).

The first paint-out of the year is scheduled for Tuesday morning, February 6, 2018 from 8 until 11 am at Orchids by Hausermann in Villa Park, IL.

Copyright Jane Kellenberger.

This popular paint-out (think tropical weather and being surrounded by thousands of orchids) has limited space and fills up quickly, so interested Guild members should contact Jane Kellenberger to save a spot. Jane’s contact information can be found in the Yearbook.

New classes and workshops start soon at The Morton Arboretum. Some upcoming nature art classes include Rocks, Minerals and Bones in Colored Pencil with Kimberly Mullarkey, Jewelry Making: Winter Berries Necklace with Karen Johnson, Linoleum Block Printing Workshop with Carrie Carlson, and Advanced Textures in Graphite and Watercolor and Nature in Graphite with Suzanne Wegener. For those just starting out, Beginner’s Nature Art Workshops: Winter Foliage in Graphite and Begin to Draw Nature are scheduled for late February and early March. All classes are open to the public and a discount is offered for members of The Morton Arboretum. Please click on this link to the Arboretum’s class listings for more information or to enroll.